Well, he's not really "mine." That's the feral cat I feed on my porch. He really can't stand me, but I think he tolerates my presence, because I give him food. :-) The raccoon evidently likes and trusts me more than the cat! Ha!
My Dad successfully "made friends" with a feral mother cat and her kittens enough to eventually adopt them. In his usual imaginative naming scheme, he called her, "Momma Cat" and the black kitten, "Blackie."
As for the birds, the chickadees we have up here do the same thing; I called it, "doing laps"; they'd fly from tree to feeder, grab a seed and fly back to the tree. For hours. But hey, free food! :-)
I was just talking yesterday with a friend of mine who has a formerly feral outdoor kitty. She said it took over a year for him to come around, but now, while still not totally trusting of people, he's much friendlier. I've heard that if cats are not socialized by the age of 9 weeks, they will typically retain some of their feral tendencies. I've always been confused by Misty. We adopted her when she was approximately that age and she was totally wild. It took her ten years to get to the point where she would even be in the same room with me comfortably. And she was in the house, with three other housecats all the time! I have no clue what her thinking was. She has only recently, like within the past few weeks, gotten to the point where she will get on the bed with me and rest her paws on my legs. Still no lap, but she's edging ever closer. She will be 14 next month, and has been with me since she was a baby
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That cat has the look of 'You've come close enough. Back off or things will get ugly.' and also, 'I can totally outrun you.' all over his face.
I see that same look every time a new stray shows up. I think I've only ever had one who didn't learn he could trust me.
Balboa came around pretty quickly. He's at the point now where he jumps up into my lap and purrs while making bread. He's got extra toes, so it's extra OW! Quit it!
Of course, this guy used to have a home, he was dumped and incredibly stressed and disoriented when he found me.
I was standing against the door frame, behind the glass, like I was one of the cops on Law and Order, so I think he could only partially see me. If I'd moved fully in front of the door, he'd have been off like a shot, canned food or no. Although, when he is out, and I also happen to be out, he's not running *quite* as quickly as he did in the beginning, so maybe he is finally figuring out that I am indeed good people.
I have no idea whether he was ever a pet. He looks incredibly scruffy, so if he was, he's been out a while. His right ear is either broken or mostly gone, and the left one has a chunk out of it. His tail looks like it's broken as well (which is a total shame, because he has that huge Maine Coon feather tail.) Maybe one of these days I can actually brush him. Wouldn't that be awesome!!
Aw! He is a cutie, if a bit disheveled. Your indoor cats must LOVE you for putting that bird feeder so close to the window. I am pretty sure mine would do nothing else except sit and stare at it all day every day. :)
Yeah, "a bit disheveled" is a good way of putting it. ;-) He is obviously a figher, not a lover. One ear is either broken or missing, and the other has been completely de-tipped. He would have a gorgeous floofy tail if I could ever brush it. I'm pretty sure he's at least part Maine Coon, judging by his tail, size, and markings, but he's kind of a mess right now. There is a feral cat clinic here, where they will live trap, spay or neuter, then release. I'm giving serious consideration to doing that for him. Maybe that would at least stop him from fighting, and also prevent some extra litters in the area.
I hope they love me for the bird feeders! There's the one right against the window, then there are two others about ten feet away that are always hopping. They spend some time on their big new condo, but more often than not, they just nap on the couch, completely oblivious that there are 300 birds outside the window. They're old. They just don't much care anymore! :-)
You should see the chipmonkey family that lives in the ditch next to my house. I love watching them run back and forth. One scared me to death the other day though. I was trimming my rose bush and it went running across my foot. I almost fell off the porch. Oy!
I noticed the tip of the ears is clipped. That's a good thing! It's common practice to clip the ear on feral cats when the are spayed so if captured they aren't 'spayed again.'
Oh my gosh...you know, you might be right? I thought this was a boy cat who had had his ears ripped in a fight, but maybe it's a girl that has been spayed then released? Holy crap. I was going to try to live trap *him* to take to the feral cat clinic, but maybe it's already been done?
You're very welcome! Some areas clip males and females. We only clip the females because if its a male thats recaptured it's 'obvious' he's been neutered.
I would guess this one has already been altered. That looks to 'neat' to be from a fight.
After reading your comment, I did some research, and it would appear you're right. This kitty is apparently part Maine Coon, or at least some long-haired variety of cat. It has a tail as big around as my arm. So I couldn't even tell if it WAS a male or not. Maybe that's the reason for the eartip.
Judging from the battle scars, I was just assuming male, but who knows. Wow, thank you so much. I feel a lot better now, at least knowing it won't be getting pregnant (or impregnating any other kitties.)
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As for the birds, the chickadees we have up here do the same thing; I called it, "doing laps"; they'd fly from tree to feeder, grab a seed and fly back to the tree. For hours. But hey, free food! :-)
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I see that same look every time a new stray shows up. I think I've only ever had one who didn't learn he could trust me.
Balboa came around pretty quickly. He's at the point now where he jumps up into my lap and purrs while making bread. He's got extra toes, so it's extra OW! Quit it!
Of course, this guy used to have a home, he was dumped and incredibly stressed and disoriented when he found me.
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I have no idea whether he was ever a pet. He looks incredibly scruffy, so if he was, he's been out a while. His right ear is either broken or mostly gone, and the left one has a chunk out of it. His tail looks like it's broken as well (which is a total shame, because he has that huge Maine Coon feather tail.) Maybe one of these days I can actually brush him. Wouldn't that be awesome!!
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I hope they love me for the bird feeders! There's the one right against the window, then there are two others about ten feet away that are always hopping. They spend some time on their big new condo, but more often than not, they just nap on the couch, completely oblivious that there are 300 birds outside the window. They're old. They just don't much care anymore! :-)
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You really have some great wildlife at your new place. :)
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I noticed the tip of the ears is clipped. That's a good thing! It's common practice to clip the ear on feral cats when the are spayed so if captured they aren't 'spayed again.'
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THank you!!
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Some areas clip males and females. We only clip the females because if its a male thats recaptured it's 'obvious' he's been neutered.
I would guess this one has already been altered. That looks to 'neat' to be from a fight.
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Judging from the battle scars, I was just assuming male, but who knows. Wow, thank you so much. I feel a lot better now, at least knowing it won't be getting pregnant (or impregnating any other kitties.)
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